When most people think of USB flash drives, the image that comes to mind is a small, compact device with a USB connector sticking out.

OCZ is about to change that.

The company is announcing a new partnership with Symwave, a silicon supplier for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 devices, and the first prototype isn't what you'd expect. OCZ has created a large, flat, external Solid State Drive with a USB 3.0 slot. It will connect through a cable to computers with a USB 3.0 interface.

“Thanks to Symwave’s industry leading USB 3.0 storage controller, our external SSD device delivers 10x the transfer rate of USB 2.0 at 5Gb/s, as well as several ‘green’ improvements including superior power management and lower CPU utilization,” said Eugene Chang, Vice President of Product Management at the OCZ Technology Group. “We are determined to be at the forefront of the market by offering products with unparalleled performance, reliability, and design to unleash the potential of flash-based storage."

This is likely to be just the first of several new products that will be announced by OCZ using the USB 3.0 interface. Super Talent previously announced a very fast USB 3.0 flash drive in a more traditional form factor.

“OCZ’s products are synonymous with high performance. Combining our USB 3.0 controller with their SSD technology, both architected for performance without compromise, is a perfect match,” said John O’Neill, Vice President of Marketing at Symwave. “CES will be a showcase for new and innovative products that provide consumers with a dramatically improved user experience. Symwave is committed to delivering silicon and software solutions that will transform the way consumers view and use USB storage devices.”